Most Haunted Places in Europe

Halloween the season to be spooky, and these spine-chilling European destinations should do the trick (or treat).

1. Scotland's haunted castles

Ancient castles abound in Scotland, and some of them are more haunted than others according to local lore. Glamis Castle, for one, is the region's most haunted. Enjoy a Scoobidoo-like experience if you dare to spend a night within its walls. Scotland's tourism board loves to play up its reputation as a ghost-infested destination, and provides plenty of ideas for thrill-seeking visitors.

2. Meet Dracula in Romania

Take a trip to Transylvania, Romania, to walk in the footsteps of Vlad the Impaler, who gave his patronymic name, Dracula, to Bram Stoker's vampire. The fictitious character dwelled in Bran Castle, which is now surrounded by souvenir stalls selling vampire-inspired wares. Poienari Castle, nestled on a mountaintop, is actually listed as an official residence of the historical figure. Along with Lake Snagov, his rumored resting place, it's a tourism hotspot for those who are fascinated by the character.

3. Walk in the footsteps of Jack the Ripper

The winding streets of Whitechapel in East London, are notorious for having once been the hunting ground for the serial killer of prostitutes who was dubbed Jack the Ripper by the press. London Walks offers some Ripper-themed strolls in the neighborhood.

4. Amsterdam's Torture Museum

The profusion of mindboggling body-part severing contraptions on display in the museum prove humanity's creative dedication to mangle and crush its own kind into submission. The venue is a short walk from the city's central train station.

5. Le Manoir de Paris

Even the City of Light has its dark corners, and the Manoir de Paris relishes in scaring its visitors with the most macabre stories from the French capital, from the Phantom of the Opera to the Vampire Cave, the necrophiliac Sergeant Bertrand (who inspired the novel The Werewolf of Paris) and the ghost of the Jardin des Tuileries. The venue has set up a special Halloween tour.